Tactile dome switch activates independent circuits

3rd June 2020

Snaptron

Alex Lynn

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Snaptron has announced the launch of a brand-new series of metal domes, the RCG series, a four-legged tactile dome switch with a ring in the centre. This feature helps reduce impact from contamination, assembly tolerances, or off-centred presses, making it the most versatile metal dome switch on the market.

The RCG series dome addresses a crucial pain point for customers, loss of electrical contact between the dome and board due to the buildup of debris. The ‘ring’ feature provides a 360-degree ring of contact, which minimises the impact from contaminants. When debris obstructs the circuit in one area, the ring still makes contact in another area. This feature on the dome also ensures that electrical contact is maintained even with off-centre or off-angle actuations.

Another feature of the RCG dome is its ability to activate multiple independent circuits. As systems continue to become smaller, engineers must make difficult decisions regarding component space and functionality. Because most dome designs only make contact at a single point in the centre, the design typically only allows for a single contact pad and a single circuit closure.

A fingered centre pad allows for two or more circuits to be contacted at the same time by multiple parts of the ring so that multiple circuits can be activated, even if the actuator makes uneven contact.

“The RCG series solves a variety of problems for our customers but was designed with the overarching goal—to decrease the chances of contact failures,” said Ashley Steinbach, Director of Strategic Development. “Our customers have come to know and rely on the high-quality domes and customer experience we provide. The RCG dome is another high-value addition to our product line up that we know brings even more value to our customers’ end-use applications.”

The RCG dome offers a low profile, high life cycle rating, multiple custom options, tactile and acoustic feedback, and a comprehensive range of forces compared to other switch technologies. The RCG dome is a top switch solution that engineers can seamlessly design into a wide variety of applications.

The RCG dome comes standard in 5.3, 6.3, 7, 8.5, 10, and 12mm sizes with forces ranging from 200g to 500g, depending on diameter, and life ratings up to 5,000,000 cycles. All standard RCG domes are nickel-plated.